A first for Loïc Remy!

Published on 21 July 2006 at 6:43 PM by BV

“And in attack, I have chosen…Loïc Remy…” Gérard Houllier has decided to call up young Lyon striker Loïc Remy to his squad for Saturday’s friendly match against Charleroi. It is a first for the Martinique-born player.

“First of all, I was surprised,” admitted the only player from the generation of ’87 who didn’t head to Tignes. “I would have like to go. The coach took four players of my age, but not me. But I didn’t let that stop me. I ept on working hard and it paid off.” The Lyon coach would certainly have been impressed by the young man’s performance in last week’s reserve team friendly match in which e scored a double. The joy of heading off with the professional squad is compounded with the fact that the match will take place just a few kilometres from Anvers, where his grandmother lives.

If forcing his way into the professional set-up of a club is Remy’s number one goal for this season, he openly admits that he wants that club to be OL: “My priority is Lyon. I’ll do everything to make it here.” For the moment, this pre-season trip means he can hope of one day joining the squad which contains “quality players” such as Sidney Govou and Sylvain Wiltord. “When I play, I take my lead from them. They help me improve every day.”

A lot of players would love to be in my place, admits the Lyon native. Well aware of the chance being offered to him, he is not losing his head: “I’m just taking it as a bonus. I’ll have to come down to earth quickly and keep working so that I’ll get a permanent place in this squad next year.” It’s a work load that is helping this undeniably talented young player to improve in leaps and bounds: “I’m a little timid and I probably don’t read the play quick enough.” Timid, and far from egoistical when considering his talents: “They tell me I’m quick and quite skilful.”

A lot of observers see a striking similarity between Remy and a young Thierry Henry, but he isn’t getting carried away: “I don’t think I’m Thierry Henry! I’m Loïc Remy. That’s all.”